The Flag of the United States of America

On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress

passed an Act to establish a

flag for the new nation.

While no one knows the exact origin of the first American flag, somehistorians believe it was designed by U.S. Congressman Francis Hopkinson and sewn by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross in 1777.

Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several

acts that changed theshape, design and

arrangement of the flag and allowed for

additional starsand stripes to be added to

reflect the admission of each new state.

Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes,

seven red alternatingwith 6 white. The

stripes represent the original 13 colonies,

the starsrepresent the 50

states of the Union.

The colors of the flag are symbolic as

well; red symbolizes Heartiness and Valor;

White stands for Purity and Innocence.

Blue represents Vigilance,

Perseverance and Justice.